India play down Kohli rant

India have moved to play down a reported rant directed at a journalist by Virat Kohli at the Cricket World Cup.

Kohli is alleged to have launched an expletive-laden tirade at Hindustan Times journalist Jasvinder Sidhu after a nets session at the Murdoch Oval.

Explaining what happened after the incident in a column on the newspaper's website, Sidhu said: "Some 10 minutes later, he emerged from the dressing room and waved his hand at me and smiled. I was confused. I didn't react.

"Kohli then called Sumit Ghosh, reporter of Bangla daily Ebela, and had a short conversation with him. The next moment Sumit, an old friend of mine, walked toward me and said, 'Sidhu, he has apologised to you for his behaviour. He mistook you for a reporter from another English daily... It was mistaken identity'."

"However, I told Sumit that such behaviour doesn't behove of an international player, even if it was not directed at me. I told Sumit, 'Go and tell him that he is an international player and he should learn how to behave. How can he abuse and intimidate someone?'"

"I would like to reiterate that Kohli did not apologise to me directly."

However, Indian officials have acted quickly to dismiss the journalist's version of events.

"There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used, Virat has spoken to the concerned gentlemen immediately and that ends the matter," said media manager RN Baba said in a widely circulated statement on Wednesday.